Podcast #1047: Is all the content creation reducing the quality of what we watch?

This week Monoprice introduces three new THX Certified compact on-wall home theater speakers and we discuss Plex's latest beta features that can help you navigate every streaming service you have. We also ask the question if all the content creation going on right now dilutes the quality of what we are watching. Plus we read your emails and discuss the week's news.

News:

• YOUTUBE TV ADDS 5 CHANNELS TO LINEUP
• AirPods security flaw could put some private data at risk
• HBO Max's Apple TV app gets a much-needed overhaul
• TP-Link's first WiFi 6E mesh system is available to order
• TCL's latest smart TVs boast 144HZ refresh rates, HDR10+

Other:

• 35mm cinema film and digital audio - by Nava Whiteford
• Michael J. Kohut - Wikipedia
• Michael J. Kohut Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications

Monoprice Introduces three new THX Certified compact on-wall home theater speakers

Monoprice has just added three THX certified on-wall home theater speakers to its popular Monolith line. The Monolith M-OW3 combines front left, center, and right channels into a single thin wall-mounted speaker. Each channel features a high-performance 4.5-inch concentric driver with an inset 20mm silk dome tweeter, an optimized waveguide, and two 4.5-inch passive radiators. Monoprice claims a flat frequency response from 70Hz to 20kHz and it has been THX Certified Select Certified. Sensitivity is 84.8dB with 4 ohms nominal impedance, five-way spring-loaded binding posts and keyhole slots on the back for easy wall mounting.

The smaller Monolith M-OW1 speaker pair also uses the same drivers per unit. Ideally suited for use as front-, center- and surround-channel speakers.

Lastly, the Monoprice's Monolith THX Certified Compact Satellite speaker pair. Monoprice bills them as a perfect solution for front left and right, height or surround channels, again featuring the same drivers. Though smaller in form factor than the other on-wall options, these cube shaped speakers have a flat frequency response down to 80Hz.

All of the speakers are available immediately. The Monoprice Monolith M-OW3 is $500; the Monoprice Monolith M-OW1 also costs $500, and the Monoprice Monolith Compact Satellite speakers are $250 per pair

Plex's latest beta features can help you navigate every streaming service you have

Plex's latest beta features are a modern solution to a modern problem — having to search through HBO Max, Netflix, Disney Plus, and like, three other services to find something to watch. The company announced a new "Discover" feature, which aggregates and recommends content from various streaming services and a universal watchlist that gathers everything you want to watch all in one place. Full article here…

State of Play

The video streaming industry has reached a tipping point

The amount of video programming today is staggering—and growing. As of February 2022, Gracenote, a Nielsen company, listed more than 817,000 unique program titles across U.S. traditional TV and streaming services, with many of those titles featuring hundreds of individual episodes and chapters. Back in December 2019, there were just over 646,000 unique program titles.

While many of those titles form the bedrock of the traditional TV universe, more recent content, especially during the past two years, has been developed for over-the-top (OTT) release across the growing expanse of streaming services. And as choice proliferates, consumers will increasingly rely on content platforms and services to provide them with the content they're most interested in.